"Caylee's Law" could Prove Ineffective

A bill in reaction to the high-profile Casey Anthony trial in Orlando Florida has surfaced in Kentucky. “Caylee’s Law” was recently pre-filed for the 2012 legislative session. When Anthony was acquitted of murdering her two-year-old daughter Caylee, many observers were outraged that she faced no jail time for failing to report her daughter missing for 31 days.“Caylee’s Law” would charge a parent or guardian with a felony for failing to report a child under 12 missing within 12 hours.

Attorney Brian Butler says the bill may have good intentions, but could have little effect in Kentucky.

“Well, a lot of people were really upset with that verdict in Florida and it makes people feel better to do something proactive,” he says “but I’m not sure that that this will really change anything and that there would have been a loophole in Kentucky law anyway.”

Butler says existing abuse and endangerment laws could already be interpreted to have a similar effect as Caylee’s law.

“You know we charge people for leaving their child in a car for leaving their child at home for a period of time,” Butler says “we don’t need a special law for that, we use endangerment laws or criminal abuse laws.”

Democratic state Representative Richard Henderson pre-filed the bill, but could not be reached for comment.